Monday, July 18, 2011

Hate Groups and Extremists Rally Behind Bachmann "Ex-Gay" Clinics

Not surprisingly the leading champions of hate, ignorance and intolerance in this country - including Southern Poverty Law Center certified hate groups - have leaped to the defense of Marcus Bachmann's witch doctor like "ex-gay" clinics. This effort to defend the indefensible is crucial to the Christianist effort to continue to dupe members of the larger public into believing that sexual orientation is a "choice" and something that can "change." The haters know that once the ex-gay myth is dead all they have left is their clearly exposed effort to force their religious beliefs on everyone in society. Think Progress has a round up of some of the batshitery flowing in rivers from the usual suspects. Here are highlights:
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“pro family groups” and even some media outlets jumped to defend the Bachmanns and their ex-gay therapy clinics. Rather than condemning these dangerous and discredited techniques, conservative groups either questioned the integrity of the under cover investigation — which revealed that therapists were telling gay patients they could become straight through prayer and therapy — or defended the practice:
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– FOX NEWS: “This undercover video is just a hit piece. They’re in there trying to get him to say something or to say or to screw him.” [The Five, 7/12/2011]
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– CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK: “If you’ve watched the mainstream media’s reporting in the last day or so you’ve seen these tapes, which suggest that changing sexual orientation is not possible, in fact at least one major study shows that it is possible.” [Report, 7/13/2011]
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– FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: “Apart from Washington, D.C., and homosexual interest groups, the majority of the country will view Marcus’s work for what it is, a ministry of hope. Pointing men and women who struggle with same-sex attractions to God isn’t ‘a discredited form of therapy,’ it’s the path to sexual healing.” [Tony Perkins, 7/13/2011]
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– AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION: Director of Issues Analysis Bryan Fishcer defended and promoted ex-gay therapy in the aftermath of the Bachmann report on his radio show. [Right Wing Watch, 7/13/2011]

– NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE: “We’ve been following with concern the organized efforts by gay activists to demonize Michele Bachmann’s husband. Greg Quinlan, President of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays and Executive Director of Equality and Justice For All comes to Mr. Bachmann’s defense — and to the defense of others who are not given a voice.” [NOM Blog, 7/13/2011]
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– TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY: “Folks, it sure didn’t take long for the liberal media to go into Christian-bashing mode against GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (R-MN).” [Peter LaBarbera, 7/13/2011]

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